Civilian movements disrupted in Vanni

[TamilNet, Monday, 24 November 1997, 23:59 GMT]
More than 1500 people from the Vanni were turned back at Uyilankulam junction yesterday, said the Voice of Tigers this morning. The radio did not specify who turned back these people back.

The SLA established the main entry point for the Vanni at Uyilankulam junction on the Vavuniya - Mannar road after the main Thandikulam entry point, two kilometers north of Vavuniya town, closed following the commencement of the Jayasikurui operation in May.

All people entering or leaving the Vanni are screened at the SLA checkpoint at Uyilankulam.

The people who were turned back yesterday had to spend the night in the open air, exposed to the elements in the hamlet of Pallamadu, north of the entry point.

A small co-operative store and the local church are the only brick buildings capable of accommodating more than one family.

Hence most people had to stay in the open or at best under trees after the rains ceased.

Most entry points to areas controlled by the LTTE are closed during tense periods such as the Maaveerar week or when there is major attack.

This has been the case in the past when the main entry point to the Vanni was at Thandikulam.

The SLA announced late last month that it was going to open another main entry point at Poovarasankulam which is much closer to Vavuniya town.

This was expected to ease a lot of problems Tamil civilians were facing in finding their way on time to Vavuniya from Uyilankulam which is near Mannar.

But the Poovarasankulam road is yet to be opened.